Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA07146’

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by light pink flowers with red eyes, very good branching with a mounding growth habit and a floriferous flowering habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘KLECA07146’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KLECA07146’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in summer of 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany. The female parent was the proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘U 100’ (unpatented), having dark pink flowers with dark red eyes, while the male parent was an unknown Calibrachoa plant.

The new cultivar was first propagated in May 2005 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings and in vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany over thirty generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerland, on Jul. 6, 2007 and in Canada on Apr. 5, 2007. ‘KLECA07146’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Light pink flowers with red eyes;     -   2. Very good branching with a mounding growth habit; and     -   3. A floriferous flowering habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows flowers and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a five-month-old Calibrachoa plant, grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, between January and May 2007.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLECA07146’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on five-month-old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 11-cm pots between January and May 2007 and then grown in a greenhouse. The plants had one terminal pinch one week after potting. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.— Calibrachoa hybrid.         -   Common name.— Calibrachoa. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—The proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘U 100’             (unpatented), having dark pink flowers with red eyes.         -   Male.—An unknown Calibrachoa plant. -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Mounding.         -   Habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—11 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—17 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Healthy and floriferous.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—18 days.         -   Root description.—Dense density, freely branching with white             roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Length of basal branches.—11 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—2.0 cm to 7.0 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 145A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 144B. Length: 1.6 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Texture: Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Size.—Length: 1.0 cm to 4.0 cm. Width: 0.5 cm to 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS 137A.             Lower surface: RHS 137C.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 144A.         -   Petioles.—Absent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.         -   Size.—Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 38A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous flowering during summertime.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single.         -   Floret type.—Funnel-shaped.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—7 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Immature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 2.5 cm. Vertical:             2.5 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 38A. Lower surface: RHS             45B.         -   Mature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 2.6 cm. Vertical:             2.5 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 49A with RHS 45C eyes.             Lower surface: RHS 49B with RHS 45D eyes.         -   Corolla tube.—Color inside: RHS 2A. Color outside: RHS 1C.             Tube length: 1.6 cm. Outside texture: Smooth.         -   Petals.—Apex: Obverse. Base: Fused into a tube. Margin:             Entire. Waviness of petals: Weak. Lobation: Weak. Texture:             Smooth.         -   Sepals.—Calyx (form): Rosette Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic             Apex: Acute Base: Fused Margin: Entire Length: 1.4 cm.             Width: 0.3 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 138A Lower surface:             RHS 138B Texture (both surfaces): Smooth -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament color: RHS 154A Filament length:             0.6 cm Filament diameter: 0.1 cm Pollen color: RHS 11A             Pollen quantity: Sparse         -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Stigma             color: RHS 149A Style color: RHS 149A -   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLECA07146’ differs from the female parent ‘U 100’ (unpatented) by having light pink flowers with red eyes, while ‘U 100’ has dark pink flowers with dark red eyes.

There is no information available for comparison of the male parent with ‘KLECA07146’ due to the fact that the male parent is not known.

‘KLECA07146’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘KLEC01061’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,172) by having a more branching, mounded and semi-upright growth habit, while ‘KLEC01061’ has a cascading growth habit with less branching. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant as shown and described herein. 